Friday, 31 January 2014

Papers which once belonged to Montague Hardwick Knott (1906 - 2006), Vicar of Blackmore from 1957 to 1985, have been given to me by a reader of the blog and accompanying website. The archive includes a sequence of Christmas letters and collected information on the history of the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore which, by coincidence, celebrates its 900th anniversary this year (2014).

Over the coming months a wide selection of items will be transcribed and posted onto this site.

However, there is a puzzle to solve. The box contains five postcards of the same church. But the whereabouts are completely unknown. Could it be in Essex, or even Lincolnshire or the Cotswolds? Can you help?

Friday, 24 January 2014

{Transcribed for the internet from
the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (now the Essex Society for
Archaeology and History), ‘New Series’ Volume 13 Part 3 (1913). The text as
originally published shows the original script with variable spelling. In this item we have added in curly brackets (thus
{}) the modern spelling of the words, which researchers may more easily find
from search engines. We welcome your
feedback.}

THE church goods of Essex have
received considerable attention in the Society's Transactions. The late Mr. H.
W. King's transcripts of inventories of confiscated church goods were printed
in vols. iv. and v. (o.s.) and in vols. i., ii., and iii. (n.s.). Mr. R. C.
Fowler and Mr. W. C. Waller printed some further inventories in vols. x. and
xi. respectively. These all referred to goods taken into the king's hands in 1552,
and in some cases the goods previously sold are also named.

The following transcript (the
Essex part only of S.P.D. Edw. VI., vol. v., no. 59) refers to the goods which
the churchwardens and parishioners had sold by 1548. The Essex parishes number one
hundred and fifteen, and are distributed fairly equally over the county. The
MS. is apparently a copy of the original certificates. The goods named in some
parishes are mentioned in the later inventories already named, but in most the
information is additional. The chief interest lies in the uses to which the
money received was put. Some was of course used for church repairs, and for
removing the signs of the old religion, but it will be seen that much was used
for a great variety of secular purposes. Contractions in the MS. have been
extended and a little punctuation added to make the sense clearer.

[P. 33.]
THE DEANERY OF BARSTABLE

HUTTON. John Smith, Barnard
Roos, Churchwardens doo say that he the same Barnard Roos and John hatter being
Churchwardens there dyd sell of the church plate there one [sic] Croose and one
chalyce for the somme of vjli. And they say That parte of the same Somme was
bestowed in repayring the churche parte in amending the highwayes parte in
setting forth of Souldyers and parte thereof yet still remayneth unbestowed
which was soulde as they say abowte Easter last past.

{HUTTON. John Smith, Bernard Roos, Churchwardens do
say that he the same Bernard Roos and John Hatter being churchwardens there did
sell off the church plate there one Cross and one chalice for the sum of £6.
And they say that part of the same sum was bestowed in repairing the church
part in amending the highway part in setting forth soldiers and part thereof
yet still remains unspent which was sold as they say about Easter last past.}

BURSTEDDE MAGNA. William
Harryes, John Bowyour, Churchwardens Doo presente and say That Thomas Wattis
and Thomas Wolnur by the consent of parryshe dyd sell of the church plate there
a senser, a shippe, ij. Sylver paxes, and a chalyce for the Somme of xijli.
xiijs iiijd., whereof they say they haue layed owte and bestowed ixli. xiijs.
iiijd. partelie emongest poore fookes, partelie for the reparcions of the
churche, and partelie for the Churche debte, which was soulde as they say in the
moneth of ffebruary anno 1545.

{GREAT BURSTEAD. William Harris, John Bowyer, Churchwardens do
present and say that Thomas Wattis and Thomas Woolnor by the consent of the
parish did sell off the church plate there a senser, a shippe[1],
2 silver paxes, and a chalice for the sum of £12.8s.4d. whereof they say they
have laid out and bestowed £9.8s.4d. partly among the poor folks, partly for
the reparations of the church and partly for the church debt, which was sold as
they say in the month of February 1545.}

LYTLE BURSTEDDE. John Dyer,
Thomas Fenner, Churchwardens, doo say That he the same Thomas Fenner and John
Stewarde with the consent of the parryshe hathe sold one chalyce of the
churches for the Somme of iijli. ixs. ixd. whereof remayneth in thandis of
certayne men of the same parryshe lvjs. viijd. And the resydue of the same
money was gyven emongest poore people which was sould as they say at mydsommer
was twelf moneth.

{LITTLE BURSTEAD. John Dyer,
John Fenner, Churchwardens do say that he the same Thomas Fenner and John
Stewarde with the consent of the parish have sold one chalice of the church for
the sum of £3.9s.9d. whereof remains in the hands of certain men of the same
parish 55s.8.d And the residue of the same money was given among poor people
which was sold as they say at midsummer was twelve month.}

[p. 37.] THE DEANERYES OF ONGO[R], CHAFFORDE,
CHELMESFORDE, AND DENGEY.

{THE DEANERIES OF ONGAR,
CHAFFORD, CHELMSFORD, AND DENGIE}

CHYGWELL. Roberte Woode,
Laurence Mundis, Churchewardens Doo saye That they haue sold certayne
candlestyckes of latten belonging to the said churche for whiche they have
receaued the Somme of xviijs. whiche Somme they say ys employed upon the
reparacions of the same churche.

{CHIGWELL. Robert Wood,
Laurence Munds, Churchwardens do say that they have sold certain candlesticks
of brass belonging to the said church for which they have received the sum of
18s. which sum they say is employed upon the reparations of the same church.}

WARELEY MAGNA. Robert Marrowe,
parson, Rychard Nelson, Churchwarden and Rychard brighte Doo say that they with
the advyse of the parryshe there hath sold so manny latten Candelstyckis of the
saide churche as came to the Somme of xxixs. ijd. which Somme remayneth holle
in the saide churchewardens handes as they say.

{GREAT WARLEY. Robert Marrowe, parson, Richard Nelson,
Churchwarden and Richard Bright do say that they with the advice of the parish
there have sold do many brass candlesticks of the said church as came to the
sum of 29s.2d. which sum remains wholly in the said churchwardens hands as they
say.}

All whiche money they saye ys
bestowed vpon the reparacions of the churche allso sold fyfite pounds of latten
ijd. the libra. Summa viiijs. iiijd. with as moche latten as came to vs. iiijd.

{GREAT BADDOW. Richard Hyckes, Lawrence Spylman
Churchwardens there do say that Robert King, James Drylande, John Postill, and
Robert Sturgeon, parishioners there did sell their parcels of plate following:
a chalice all gilded weighing 19½ ounces at 4s.6d. per ounce … Sum £4.7s.9d.

All which money they say is
bestowed upon the reparations of rhe church also sold fifty pounds of brass 2d
the pound. Sum 9s.4d with as much brass as come to 5s.4d.}

LEES MAGNA. John England,
George Osborne, Churchwardens Doo presente That James Spylman and John Danyell
dyd sell vj. torches for iiijs. vjd. whiche was employed to the poore mens
boxe.

{GREAT LEIGHS. John England, George Osborne, churchwardens
do present that James Spylman and John Daniell dis sell 6 torches for 4s.6d.
which was employed to the poor mens box.}

CHELMESFORDE. Geffrey Skotte,
William Nooke, Churchwardens Do presente That they and Roger Platte,
paryshenour, solde as much mettall as they receaued xlviijs. vjd. with as many
olde towels as came to viijd. whiche money they haue with more spente in
wasshing the churche with lyme and wryting of scripture abowte the churche with
taking downe of ymagis.

{CHELMSFORD. Geoffrey Skotte,
William Nooke, Churchwardens do present that they and Roger Platt, parishioner,
sold as much metal as they received 48s.6d. with as many old towels as came to
8d. which money they have with more money spent in washing the church with lime
and writing of scripture about the church with taking down the images.}

WODEHAM FFERRYES. Robert Styleman,
Rychard Newton, Churchwardens, doo presente That abowte three yeres agoo John
Sandis, gentleman, and William pirrs beinge Churchwardens dyd sell a broken
bell for the somme of xvli. Also a Chalyce of sylver with a paxe of sylver for
the Somme of vli. whiche money the say was employed vpon the makinge of a newe
fframe in the steple for the bells and for shingling ot the churche.

{WOODHAM FERRERS. Robert Styleman, Richard Newton,
Churchwardens, do present that about three years ago John Sands, gentleman, and
William Pirrs being Churchwardens did sell a broken bell for the sum of £15.
Also a chalice of silver with a paxe of silver for the sum £5 which money they
say was employed upon the making of a new Frame in the steeple for the bells
and for shingling out the church.}

NORTON. John Whytinge
Churchwarden there doo say That he solde as myche allablaster as came to xxd.
which money ys yet in his kepinge.

{NORTON MANDEVILLE. John
Whiting Churchwarden do say that he sold as much alabaster as came to 20d which
money is yet in his keeping.}

MARGARETYNGE. Robert Taber,
William Dawson, Churchwardens doo say That they sold to repayre the church one
unce of brooken sylver for iiijs.

{MARGARETTING. Robert Taber,
William Dawson, Churchwardens do saythat they sold to repair the church one
ounce of broken silver for 4s.}

[P. 74] THE DEANERY OF DUNMOWE.

{THE DEANERY OF DUMNOW}

SEELO BOWELLS. Rychard
Sampforde hath solde of the said churches plate one Clalyce of sylver and gylte
for the Somme of xxxvijs. iiijd. whiche money the same Rychard bestowed in
repayring the same churche.

{SHELLOW BOWELLS. Richard
Sampford has sold of the said church plate one chalice of silver and gilded for
the sum of 37s.4d. which money the same Richard bestowed in repairing the same
church.}

Saturday, 18 January 2014

EXTRACTED FROM Calendar of
Wills proved and enrolled in the Court of Husting, London.

WITH ADDITIONAL NOTES BY A.
BENNETT BAMFORD, V.D.

{A transcription of an article
taken from the Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society (now the Essex
Society for Archaeology and History), ‘new series’ Volume 13 part 4, published
in 1914. Items in curly brackets { } have been added for the convenience of the
modern reader on the Internet. Your
feedback on this article would be appreciated, especially if you have referred
to it in the course of research. The
full transcription will be published in Spring 2014 on www.esah160.blogspot.com }

ALL now, who are interested in
genealogical research, and in the manners, customs and dress of the Middle
ages, realise the important light that is thrown upon the subject by the wills
of the time. In going through the wills proved and enrolled at the Court of
Husting, London, published in two volumes by order of the Corporation of the
City, and edited, with an introduction, by Dr. Reginald R. Sharpe, it is very
noticeable how many of the citizens, whose wills were enrolled during the
latter half of the thirteenth century and the first half of the fourteenth,
bore Essex names, i.e., names of towns and villages whence they or their
fathers had come. Surnames, as we know them, were then uncommon, and when men
were not known by the name of the birthplace or former residence, it was
usually by their trade or occupation, such as Draper, Taylor, Baker, Smith,
etc. A list of names of places in Essex, used as surnames, will probably not be
uninteresting, and will shew how many of the citizens of London were of Essex
descent. These wills also contain much matter of interest to the Essex
antiquary, such as gifts of plate, ornaments, and books, money for founding
chantries in the churches, or for their repair or rebuilding; and bequests to
the different religious houses, especially Stratford and Barking, where many of
the citizens had daughters or relatives. These bequests help to fix the date of
many of the additions to our parish churches, i.e., Bartholomew Denmars, in
1352, leaves money towards the work of the church of South Benfleet; Alice
Hongreforth, in 1491, leaves directions to her executors to see that the roof
of Blackmore church is "properly seled with Estryche boord "; and
John Draper, in 1496, desires his lands and tenements in the parish of Colne
(Colne Engaine?) to be sold, and the proceeds to be devoted to the purchase of
forty thousand bricks, towards the work of the belfry of the said parish
church.

The wills included in this
present paper are from the commencement of the calendar in 1258 to 1361-2,
dividing those of local interest more equally into two parts, than if the
extracts had ended in 1358, with Dr. Sharpe’s first volume. Some of the notes are by Dr. Sharpe, and
others have been added. The Guildhall Library Committee kindly say that they
are only too pleased to see the work make some use of, and members living in,
and well acquainted with the places mentioned in the wills, may be able to give
further information concerning the bequests and testators.

ABSTRACT FROM WILLS

1287. GODFREY ROSAMUND.—To the
Prior and Convent of la Blakemore {Blackmore}, five shillings annual rent in
the parish of All Hallows de Fancherche, on condition that his name be put in
their obituary (martilogio), and his obit kept. (No date.)

1291. WILLIAM HERVI. - To the
Prior and Convent of BIakemore {Blackmore}, his shop, so that his servant John
hold the same for a term of three years after his decease, rendering to the
said prior half a mark for pittance. (No date.) (Afterwards let on lease to Sir
Richer de Refham.)

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Blackmore Area Local History

I am a keen amateur local historian who has always lived in the CM4 postal district (Ingatestone and Blackmore).
I am currently running an interim blog for the Essex Society for Archaeology and History - see esah160.blogspot.co.uk - and have recently completed a Certificate in Local History at the University of Essex.
The purpose of this blog (which began in 2007) and partner website is simply to encourage everyone to consider, explore and learn about their local heritage and history. The Internet is a marvellous resource and enables people from around the corner and around the world to share.
Enjoy the journey of discovery.